By ANEEKA SIMONIS
CASEY Hospital has announced breakthrough plans to better manage the risk posed by mentally ill and drug affected patients in its Emergency Department.
The changes, announced on Friday 22 April, vow to protect patients, staff, police and paramedics – and restore dignity to troubled mental health and drug patients.
A whistle-blower had strongly criticised the hospital, for allowing dangerous patients to mix with children and members of the public.
Casey Hospital’s “unsafe” waiting area was accused of failing to adequately contain aggressive, volatile patients as they waited for urgent medical attention.
The whistle-blower told the Gazette dangerous patients were instead lumped together with other patients, including children.
The source, a senior emergency health worker, blamed the hospital’s poor facilities, highlighting a lack of isolated holding rooms for patients threatening public safety in addition to security management concerns.
Those exposed to violence within the public hospital shared their terrifying experiences with the Gazette.
Among the claims, a 29-year-old Pakenham man suffering with kidney stones was allegedly intimidated, harassed and threatened by an “aggressive” woman wandering the hospital in search of drugs in the early hours of the morning on Thursday 24 March.
“The staff continually asked her to go back to her bed, but she continued to walk the emergency room and poked her head in far too many times when she heard my husband was getting morphine,” the patient’s wife said.
“She walked up and down for several hours while we were there and behaved aggressively to the nurses and doctors several times.
“The nurse said ‘OK, go back to your bed and someone will come and see you soon’ … but she continued to wander and peep through everyone’s curtains.
“As tired as I was, I ensured I did not fall asleep as I did feel unsafe with my eyes closed and felt I needed to keep an eye out for myself and my husband’s safety.”
The terror continued and after the Pakenham couple’s fourth trip to the hospital Emergency Department that week, they vowed not to return – instead, forking out hundreds in fees for private hospital care at the Epworth.
These claims, alongside accusations nursing staff failed to appropriately respond to danger, were put to Monash Health.
They came back with a landmark announcement, revealing plans to completely overhaul their procedures dealing of violent patients in the interest of public safety.
“Casey Hospital Emergency Department is currently developing a new model of care for agitated patients that manages them in the safest and most compassionate ways possible,” the Monash Health spokesperson said.
“Our ongoing priority remains the health and safety of all of our patients, visitors, and staff.”
The hospital also revealed plans to improve patient waiting facilities, likely to include the development of a secure holding room to separate psychosis patients from others as they await medical assessment.
“We are also working with the Department of Health and Human Services to secure funds to make changes to the waiting areas to improve the amenity for patients and families,” the hospital spokesperson said.
The hospital was unable to reveal further details about the two-pronged safety plan, however it is understood the hospital hopes the breakthrough safety improvements will be funded through a State Government violence prevention fund.
The government is expected to soon open applications for the second round of funding under the $20 million Health Service Violence Prevention Fund.
Monash Health received $594,000 from the first round which included the installation of a new duress alarm system in the Monash Medical Centre Adult Acute Inpatient Unit in Clayton and a CCTV system at the Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre entrance and foyer.
The Gazette’s off-record source welcomed the announcement.
“The safety of people attending the emergency department is a priority.”
Monash Health vowed to reveal changes to Casey Hospital’s Emergency Department ahead of implantation.
The health provider received $1.166 billion in government funding in 2015-’16, up 5.4 per cent on last financial year.
